Kyiv, 17 May 2025 – At least nine people were killed and seven injured early today when a Russian drone struck a minibus near the town of Bilopillia, in Sumy region in eastern Ukraine, according to local authorities.
Monitors from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU) are in the process of gathering additional information on the circumstances of the attack and its victims. Preliminary reports suggest that the minibus was carrying civilian evacuees from an area close to the frontline, the majority of whom were women.
“With nine civilians reported killed, this would be the deadliest attack in weeks,” said Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU. “This is a stark reminder that civilians continue to be killed and injured on a daily basis across Ukraine.”
If confirmed, today’s strike would represent the deadliest attack since 24 April 2025, when an attack killed at least 11 civilians and injured 81 in Kyiv. While the number of civilian casualties in May has been somewhat lower than in April, HRMMU has continued to document daily civilian casualties, particularly along the frontline.
